Hockey Stick Carrier

ABSTRACT

A device for carrying more than one hockey stick at a time. The device having a body containing a handle portion and a stick receiving portion. The handle portion including an aperture to allow for grasping by a user. The stick receiving portion located outward from the handle and including a plurality of sidewalls forming a u-shaped cavity sized to receive the shaft of a hockey stick.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/546,125 filed 2011 Oct. 12 to the above named inventor.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM

Not Applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sporting goods and more specifically to a device for carrying a pair of hockey sticks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hockey is a popular sport played throughout the world. To play hockey a user is required to use a stick. The hockey stick has a long shaft with a blade at one end. A typical hockey stick is available in three different sizes of varying lengths and shaft thickness. These sizes are youth, junior, and senior. The youth sized stick is the smallest having a narrow shaft sized for a child's hand with a typical length between forty-six (46) and forty-three (43) inches. The junior and senior sticks have a similar shaft width to fit in an older youth or adult hand and are typically available in length from fifty-four (54) inches to sixty-three (63) inches.

As hockey cannot be played without a stick and as stick are prone to breakage, a typical player will carry more than one hockey stick. Typically, a player will carry two hockey sticks. Due to the length of the sticks, it is often difficult for a player to carry both sticks in one hand and carry the additional gear the sport requires. Therefore, there is a need for a device that allows a user to carry two or more hockey sticks in one hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The hockey stick carrier according to the present invention includes a body. The body includes a handle portion and a stick receiving portion. The handle portion is centrally connected to the stick receiving portion and defines the upper edge of the body distal to the stick receiving portion. The handle portion being substantially planar and having an aperture to receive the hands or fingers of the user. Preferably, the body is extrusion molded out of high density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic, although other similar materials may be used.

The stick receiving portion is composed of a pair of holders disposed outwardly on each side of the handle portion. The holders having three sidewalls forming a u-shape and defining a stick receiving cavity to receive the shaft of a hockey stick. The sidewalls are defined by an inner sidewall, an outer sidewall, and a lateral sidewall. According to this configuration, a lateral opening is present opposite the lateral sidewall and allows access to the stick receiving cavity. The sidewalls are resilient allowing them to splay outward during insertion of a hockey stick. The lateral sidewall includes a gripping element to secure the stick within the cavity. It is preferred that the gripping element be a pair of rubber like strips co-extruded with the plastic of the body.

The inner sidewall and outer sidewall include an inward protrusion or lip. The lip having an underside and extending into the lateral opening. The distance from the lip underside to the lateral sidewall is sized to snuggly receive the longer dimension of the shaft of the hockey stick.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the distance from the lip underside to the lateral sidewall is between 1.1 inches and 1.2 inches and the distance from the inner sidewall and the outer sidewall is between 0.6 inches and 0.8 inches. Preferably, the body is between four (4) and twelve (12) inches long, with six (6) inches being the preferred length. Preferably, the height of the body is between 3.5 inches and 4.5 inches tall, with the preferred height being 3.7 inches.

To adapt for different sized sticks, the gripping element may be height adjustable to decrease the distance between the gripping element and the lip underside. Preferably, a kit is sold to adapt the cavity size to conform to smaller sticks. This kit may include a rubber like grommet that is attachable within the cavity.

In use, a user will place the hockey stick into the carrier by pressing the hockey stick into the stick receiving cavity though the lateral opening. This compression will splay the sidewalls and the stick will be maintained through the resilient tension of the material and the lip.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lateral opening is adjacent to the handle portion, wherein the open end of the u-shape of the holders faces upward. Although this is the preferred configuration of the holders, the holders can be orientated in multiple configurations. It is preferred that the body be extrusion molded and constructed as one piece, although the device can be made from separate pieces and assembled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and together with the description serve to further explain the principles of the invention. Other aspects of the invention and the advantages of the invention will be better appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the Detailed Description when considered in conjunction with accompanying drawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hockey stick carrier with a hockey stick received within the carrier, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal or side view of the hockey stick carrier, according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a lateral or end view of the hockey stick carrier, according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1-FIG. 3 of the hockey stick carrier according to the present invention. The hockey stick carrier includes a body, generally referred to as 10. The body having a vertical dimension 11, a longitudinal dimension 12, and a lateral dimension 13 substantial orthogonal to the longitudinal dimension 12 and the vertical dimension 11. The body 10 including a handle portion 101 and a stick receiving portion 102. The handle portion 101 centrally connected to the stick receiving portion 102 and defining the upper edge of the body 10 distal to the stick receiving portion 102. The handle portion 101 being substantially planar and having an aperture 110 to receive the hand or fingers of the user. Preferably, the body 10 is extrusion molded out of high density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic, although other similar materials may be used.

The stick receiving portion 102 is composed of a pair of holders 120 disposed outwardly on each side of the handle portion 101. The holders 120 having three walls forming a u-shape and defining a stick receiving cavity 122 to receive the shaft of a hockey stick 20. The walls are defined by an inner sidewall 124, an outer sidewall 125, and a lateral wall 126. According to this configuration, a lateral opening 127 is present opposite the lateral wall 126 and allows access to the stick receiving cavity 122. The walls are resilient allowing them to splay outward during insertion of a hockey stick 20. The lateral wall 126 includes a gripping element 128 to secure the stick 20 within the cavity 122. It is preferred that the gripping element 128 be a pair of rubber like strips co-extruded with the plastic of the body 20.

The inner sidewall 124 and outer sidewall 125 include a lip 130. The lip 130 having an underside 131 and extending into the lateral opening 127. The distance from the lip underside 131 to the lateral sidewall 126 is sized to snuggly receive the longer dimension of the shaft of the hockey stick 20.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the distance from the lip underside 131 to the lateral wall 126 is between 1.1 inches and 1.2 inches and the distance from the inner sidewall 124 and the outer sidewall 125 is between 0.6 inches and 0.8 inches. Preferably, the body 10 is between four (4) and twelve (12) inches long, with six (6) inches being the preferred length. Preferably, the height of the body 10 is between 3.5 inches and 4.5 inches tall, with the preferred height being 3.7 inches.

To adapt for different sized sticks 20, the gripping element 128 may be height adjustable to decrease the distance between the gripping element 128 and the lip underside 131. Preferably, a kit is sold to adapt the cavity size to confirm to smaller sticks. This kit may include a rubber like grommet that is attachable within the cavity 122.

In use, a user will place the hockey stick 20 into the carrier by pressing the hockey stick 20 into the stick receiving cavity 122 through the lateral opening 127. This compression will splay the sidewalls 121 and the stick 20 will be maintained through the resilient tension of the material and the lip 130.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lateral opening 127 is adjacent to the handle portion 101, wherein the open end of the u-shape of the holders 120 faces upward. Although this is the preferred configuration of the holders 120, the holders 120 can be orientated in multiple configurations. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for carrying at least two hockey sticks, the hockey sticks each having a handle, the device comprising: a longitudinal dimension having a front region and rear region; a vertical dimension having a top region and a bottom region; a lateral dimension substantial orthogonal to the longitudinal and vertical dimensions, the lateral dimension having a right region and left region; an elongate body disposed substantially along the longitudinal dimension, the body having an upper handle region and a lower stick receiving region; a first and second concave region each disposed within a respective resilient sidewall and a substantially lateral wall and having an opening for receiving the hockey stick handle, the opening disposed substantially opposite the lateral wall, the lateral wall having a gripping element; and wherein the sidewalls are sufficiently resilient to splay outward upon the insertion of the hockey stick handle into the cavity and to return inward toward center upon full insertion of the hockey stick handle.
 2. A device as in claim 1, wherein the body includes a substantially planar portion disposed between the first and second concave regions.
 3. A device as in claim 1, wherein the handle includes an aperture though the body sized to receive at least three fingers of a user.
 4. A device as in claim 1, wherein the sidewalls each have an inwardly protruding lip disposed near the concavity opening and in which the sidewall and lips are adapted to move outward upon beginning insertion of the hockey stick handle and in which the sidewall and lips are adapted to return inward upon complete insertion of the hockey stick handle such that vertical movement of the of the hockey stick through the opening is inhibited by the lip.
 5. A device as in claim 4, wherein the concavity opening is disposed vertically upward of the concavity lateral wall.
 6. A device for carrying at least two hockey sticks, the hockey sticks each having a handle, the device comprising: a body portion, the body portion comprising: a handle portion, the handle portion being substantially planar and having an aperture, the aperture sized to receive at least three fingers of a user; and a stick receiving portion, the stick receiving portion being resilient and connected to the handle portion and having a pair of holders, the holders being u-shaped having an inner sidewall, an outer sidewall, a lateral wall, and a lateral opening opposite the lateral wall forming a stick receiving cavity, the lateral wall having a griping element, the inner sidewall and the outer sidewall having a lip, the lip having a underside and extending into the lateral opening, wherein the lip secures the shaft of the hockey stick within the stick receiving cavity.
 7. A device as in claim 6, wherein the body is one piece.
 8. A device as in claim 6, wherein the body is between 4 and 12 inches long.
 9. A device as in claim 6, wherein the body is less than four inches high.
 10. A device as in claim 6, wherein the stick holding cavity is between 0.6 and 0.8 inches wide from the lip on the inner sidewall to the lip on the outer sidewall.
 11. A device as in claim 6, wherein the distance from the lip underside to the lateral wall is between 1.1 and 1.2 inches.
 12. A device as in claim 6, wherein the lateral opening is adjacent to the handle portion.
 13. A method for using the device of claims 1-13 for holding at least two hockey sticks, the method comprising: inserting the hockey sticks into the stick receiving cavity, wherein the hockey sticks will be retained by the resilient sidewalls and lip. 